Cooked engine in Texas.

[TMACK]

I'm not trying to sound overly paranoid here, but is there any chance that the exposed, unlocked service bay on the Smart is proving to be, well, attractive to certain personality types?
Is there such a thing as a locking coolant cap?

I for one am opting for my SGII to display coolant temp, reading this post.
Whatever Smart designed for an overtemp warning looks to be lacking in the attention getting department.

[Brabus007]

Well thanks Guy's for the Heads-Up on Loose Coolant Cap...<:-(( I guess I will go crank mine down a little tighter...!!!

Quirky Little Cars aren't they...
Urban Dictionary: quirky

[fpage77]

A picture of this coolant cap location would be nice.

[jetfuel]

Originally Posted by fpage77

A picture of this coolant cap location would be nice.

..under the hood/bonnet...there are several...get them ALL tight ...

jetfuel...we don't need na stinking pichers

[fpage77]

Originally Posted by jetfuel

..under the hood/bonnet...there are several...get them ALL tight ...

jetfuel...we don't need na stinking pichers

I actually just came in from tightening my cap.

[Gilbert's]

Originally Posted by B_Cebrian

My smart is dead. True and well killed. I was taking a trip to California from Virginia in my 09 passion. When somewhere between Virginia and San Antonio the cap came off the coolant pressure tank. Not sure when or how anyone messed with it as I've been driving the car for 6 months with not an issue. The car slowly lost coolant but never gave me a symptom till it started pinging then a minute or two later lost power. Road service towed me to the San Antonio dealership, they said that the engine has seriously overheated and was done. The car needs a new engine. Since it was a cap that came off and not really a factory defect the failure is not covered by the warranty...... The estimate is over $7,000 for the repair. Lots of fun, plus I have to go back to San Antonio to pick it up after the new engine is installed. I'm kicking myself for not checking everything, oil, coolant, brake and washer fluid every morning prior to starting out.... damn. Lesson learned the hard way.

Call first Smart USA before you pay 7K..... this issue at 6 month old should be in warranty claim it's the way the dealer how to write the claim... They are double deeping tell them that I told you from California they will claim 7K from you and re-write and claim from Smart USA... what a thief...

[pmolink]

My business partner had an engine on his 6-month old Toyota Sienna sieze up due to engine sludge. The dealer claimed that it was his fault because he got his last oil change at a Jiffy Lube. They were going to charge him $12K for a new engine. He told them to go ahead and replace the engine, but to prepare the old engine to be loaded on his pickup truck because his attorney had made arrangements for an independent post-mortem inspection of the machine.

When he showed up with his truck to pick up the repaired Sienna and the old engine, they told him that they decided that there would be no charge for the new engine.

The whole thing about the attorney and the post-mortem was just a bluff. A very good bluff!

[jimvw57]

I ended up in court over the motor in my old GMC Safari van, the dealer replaced the fuel injection that was leaking . I picked it up, got 3 blocks away and the motor locked up. 2 cylinders were full of gasoline and the bottom of the crankcase had 3 gallons of oil and gas in it. I had the motor rebuilt by a different mechanic and took them to court. I had the parts and a detailed signed, NOTORIZED statement from the mechanic/ shop owner. The judge threw out the parts and the statement because the mechanic that did the work was not present.

It only cost me $4,000 for the motor rebuild, the dealer wanted to give me a used motor from a junk yard with unknown miles and unknown condition, no warranty... I chose to have mine rebuilt as it was spotless inside with very little wear,(mobil 1 it's whole life) Except for the pistons stuck in the cylinders, everyting looked like new.

[stressed member]

Time to get the safety wire out? 40 years on the road and never had a coolant cap come off. This certainly is an odd one.( going out to check my cap)

[fpage77]

I would have to say I was able to tighten my cap quite a bit. I thought it was funny the fluid is in a plastic container with a plastic cap. I would think the thing would melt as doesn't the water get hot as steam.